Freight car construction



ocru 16, 1934. w. A. BREWER 1,977,468

FREIGHT CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7, 1932:- 4 Sheets-Sheet l i iiiiia Oct. 16, 1934. l W A BREWER 1,977,468

FREIGHT CAR CONSTRUCTION oouuooooo ATTORNEY oct. 16, 1934. w. A. BREWER1,977,468

FREIGHT CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed March f7, 1932 4 Sheets-Shee'il 3INVENTOR ZlJaZZz'anz Eran/e7 ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1934. w A BREWER FREIGHTCAR CONSTRUCTIQN 4 Sheets-"Sheet 4 Filed March 7, 1952 A1'roRNEYPatented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED sv1"..rEs`

PATENT oFFlcE 1,9%458 e FREIGHT can :CONSTRUCTION VWilliam A. Brewer,St. Louis,l Mo.,assignor'l.to American Car and Foundry Company, New.York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey appro-.dion March v7, 1932,serial No. 59":,16'6

s claims. (or. los-.355) q Y This invention relates to freight carconstruction and with regard to certain more specific features thereof'to box or house car construction and to improved methods of manufactureof the 5, same.

The invention has for one of its objects to pro-` Vide an inexpensiveand durable box car divided by transverse partitions for thereceptionand transportation of different lots of loose freightrespectively in individual or distinct compartments, and having sidedoors for each compartment whereby a shipment may be loaded or'unloadedwithout disturbing the contents of any othercompartment. i

Another object lies in certain of the partition--A ing means being inthe form of'doors displaceable when desired to enlarge one compartmentby opening it to one or more of the others. In Va preferred form of theinvention this object is 20, carried out by hinging the doors at the carsides so that substantially the entire transverse partition may bequickly removed when uniting the adjacent chambers or compartments;

Another object ofthe invention is to `provide 125. ar frame constructionof improved type vwhich facilitates the operation of applying a cover orsheathing so that it will produce .a substantially flush exterior,lowering wind resistance and presenting a neatexternal appearance, andwhich o serves substantially in support of the partitions or the sidedoors, or both. e

'Still another object of the invention isl to provide a union of flangedor reinforced metal frame pieces to produce a sturdy frame for flushexfterior sheathing and the securing of partitions or doors, or both, ifdesired, and also to provide a novel method of uniting flanged orreinforced Vrnetalframe pieces at right angles to each other. Otherobjects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out particularlyhereinafter,

rThe invention accordingly-consists in the various features ofconstruction.combinations of elements, and arrangements of'partswhichwill be exemplified by the construction hereinafter set forth andthe scope ofthe application'of which willbe indicated in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Figurerl is a view in horizontal longitudinal section ofa 'freight' car embodying 5() the invention. e A

Figs.'` 2 and 3' are complemental views in Aside elevation' of the carshown in section in Figj.1.` l Fig. 4 is a view in cross section takenon the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. f

155 Fig. 5 is a View in perspective showing a union of certain of theframe pieces and the manner of application of the exterior sheathing.

Fig. '6 is a sectional view of the same showing how theoor of the car issupported.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a union of 560 frame pieces accordingto a modified form of the invention. f

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 showingv themanner of application of the floor.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 3,showing the corner post construction. l

Fig. 10 isa fragmentary sectional view lof a portionof the car, showingthe hinge connection 7 (L for the doors closing the compartments, and

\ Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 10. iReferring now more particularly to the drawingslvthe'f'car of thepresentinvention comprises 75 an underframe having a center sill 10formed of 'standard A. .RQ-A. sections 11 'and 12 connected by rtop andbottom cover plates 13 and 14, respectively; rIvhe lunderframe alsoincludes longitudinally extending side sills which preferably are SJcommercially rolled ship channels each having a web 19 and inwardlyextending upper and lower flangesl'l and 18, respectively.

Suitable bolsters and crossbearers (not shown) connect the side sillsAand the center sill and the side sills are suitably connected at theirends by end'sill membersyfThe end connectionmay be by channels similarto the side sills or by any otherjrolledA orplate section. The flooringfor the car may beapplied over the side and cene ter sills' and thetransverse end connections may befapplied overy the flooring. `As'specifically shown herein, the transverse connection between the ends ofthe side sills is an angle member 20 which overlies and is riveted tothe top iianges Q5 l'flof the sills. 3 l

Cornerpost's `21 extend to the corners of an upper metal framecomprising longitudinal Z- bars 22 and Atransverse metal end members 23.-rI 'he corner posts comprise Wooden uprights 24 100 fitted in metalangles 25, the latter receiving marginal portions of exterior coveringor sheathing 26; A facing stri`p2'? covers the edges of the sheathing atthe corners.

Posts or-Vuprights 30 are spaced along the sides 105 and ends of thecar. They are united with the side sills'in a novel manner whereby astrong union is effected quickly and conveniently and the main facingportions of the uprights are broughtsubstantially ush with the outerfacey of the side sill web. 'Ilhese posts may be in any of a number ofcross sectional forms, two suitable embodiments being shown in thedrawings. Preferably each post has a facing portion 31, specifically aflange, and a reinforcing or strengthening portion 32 which may be inthe form of a flange or web as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings or may bea `pressed channel `33 as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings.

In making the union above mentioned, upper inwardly extending flanges ofthe side sills are provided with spaced apertures 35 preferably of ashape and size corresponding to fthe shape of the post to be used inconnectionl therewith, and also preferably lying wholly within'. theflange leaving the inner edge thereof'intact and continuous. The sizeand shape ofthe aperture is such that the end of the post'mayhave asliding nt with the flange of the sill at the aperture. 'I'he end ofeach post is inserted'through the fiange of the sill at `the aperturepreferably until the inserted lendcomes at or near the lower flange ofthe sill. The apertures are so vpositioned in the upper iiange of thesill that the facing 31 of the inserted portion of the post is broughtsubstantially against the inner face of the web of the sills. Rivets 36secure the facing portion of the post to theweb of the sill. The edgesof the flange at the aperture serve as a means for supporting the twoparts of the union in assembled position while the riveting operation iseiected, and also serve generally to prop the post and to an extentrelievey the rivets 36 of shearing strain. t 'The posts 30 arepreferably oifset from a point 40 inwardlly, that is, the inserted endportion of the post is set'in so that when the post is in assembledposition the facing portion of the body of the post comes .substantiallyflush with the outer face of the sill web. The sheathing 26 is securedto the facing portion lof the posts 30 and may overlapvandubew securedto the web portion of the sills.v A n In Figs. 7 and 8 the post is shownasaI pressed metal member having afacing portion constituted by flanges50 and 51. `Ihevstrengthening portion is in channel form as indicated at33 having channel sides 52 and a web 53. The manner of offsetting thelvend and insertingit through the flange ofthe sill and securing it tothe inner face of the sill web issubstantially the same as previouslydescribedvin connection withthe form show n in "Figs,` 5 yand-6. v Theupper ends of the posts arerlrivetedor secured in any Vsuitable waytothe metall-bars 22 of the upper frame and at the ends Yof the cars theposts 30 accordingto the present showing have their lower endssubstantially abutting the inwardly extending lower flange of the angle20. l

End walls 60, preferably of wood,4 abut the corner posts 21 and the enduprights 30. Suitable wooden iillers maybe flttedin the shoulders of theposts as indicatedat 61., Y

A series of transversepartitions are shownnat 64 extending between andsecuredto the posts on oppositesides of the c ar..` .Some of thesepartitions may be inr substantially permanent form as indicated vat 65and jotherS my be in the form of pairs of hinged doors 66.` These kmaybe of plate metal suitably reinforced and they arehinged at` 67 at theposts on opposite sides of the car. They are 4interitting at 68 wheresuitable locking devices may be applied if desired. i As shown clearlyinV Fig. 1 of theY drawings, the hinged doors may be movable to oppositesides of the car so as to unite two compartments and enlarge the spaceto accommodate a larger shipment. The upper frame is formed with a roof70 of substantially conventional style.

Door frames are formed in the car sides by certain of the successivespaced posts 30 together with the side sillsof the car, andangle membersconnected to the posts forming lin- `tels. 'I'he sides and ends of thecar are comi pletely sheathed to the door frames, there being one ofthese frames at each side of the car for each of the compartmentsprovided by the partitions 64.

Each door frame is'provided with a pair of doors 81 provided with hingeleaves 81h connected to hinge members 81a which latter are secured byrivets or other suitable fasteners to the posts 30. The doors 81 are,therefore, sturdily supported and may be swung together at the -middleof the frame as shown at 82, in which position they may be locked by anysuitable locking device as indicated at 83. The arrangement of the sidedoors yand the partition doors is such that when two compartments areunitedA the partitiondoors may overlap or overlie one set of side doorsbut will in so doing clear the partition door well away from anothervset of. side d oors which provides free access to the enlargedcompartment, for loading and unloading purposes. Y t

The rolled sections constituting the side sills are not materiallyweakened by the apertures. The aperturing of the flange may be bypunching or burning or the posts may be forced through the flangebyvelectrical process. Several comparatively inexpensive methods areopen to the manufacturer. Flooring 90 maybe laid over the upper sillflange and fitted neatly around the uprights.

A lining 91 of open slat work of wood may be continued around thecompartment walls to prevent the freight from coming in contact with thesheathing or uprights and some or all of the compartments may beinsulated and arranged for refrigeration. A

' What is claimed is:

1. In a freight car, a metal frame comprising channel shaped side sillsand side posts extending through the upper flanges of and secured to theside sills, a plurality of Vspaced sheathing sections, each thereofextending between and'securedto theouter surfaces of adjacent postswhereby door openings are dened between adjacent sheathing sections, anda plurality of transverse partitions between oppositely arranged postsdividing. the car into a series of individualbompartments.

2. In a freight car, a metal frame comprising channel shaped side sillsand side posts extending through the upper flanges 'of and secured tothe side sills, a plurality of spaced sheathing sections, each thereofextendingV between and secured to the outer surfaces of adjacent postswhereby door openings are defined between adjacent sheathing sections,Ya plurality of transverse fr partitions between oppositely arrangedposts dividing the car into a'. series of individual compartments, anddoorssecured tothe side posts land adapted to close said door 'openings`3. In a freight car, a metal frame comprising channel shapedside sillsand side posts extending .through the upper flanges of and secured tothe 'side sins, a piunity of spaced sheathing sections, each thereofextending .between and secured to the outer surfaces of adjacent postswhereby door openings are defined between adjacent sheathing sections, aplurality of transverse partitions between oppositely arranged postsdividing the car into a series of individual compartments, doors securedto the side posts and adapted to close said door openings, and flooringextending between the side sills and supported thereby.

4. In a freight car, a metal frame comprising channel shaped side sillsand side posts extending through the upper flanges of and secured to theside sills, a plurality of spaced sheathing sections, each thereofextending between and secured to the outer surfaces of adjacent sideposts whereby door openings are dened between adjacent sheathingsections, a plurality of transverse partitions between oppositelyarranged side posts dividing the car into a series of individualcompartrnents, certain of said partitions comprising doors movableadjacent the sheathing interiorly of the car to merge adjacentcompartments, flooring extending between the side sills and supportedthereby, and doors secured to the side posts and adapted to close saiddoor openings.

5. In a freight car, an underfrarne having channel shaped side sills,side posts having their lower end portions extending through the upperflanges of and secured to the side sills, said posts having facingportions and the portions of said posts extending through the flanges ofthe sills being offset in such a manner as to dispose the facingportions of the posts in substantially vertical alinement with the outersurfaces of the webs of the side sills, a plurality of spaced externalsheathing sections extending between adjacent posts and secured to thefacing portions thereof and to the webs of the side sills so as toprovide a plurality of door openings in the sides of the car, and doorssupported by the posts and adapted to close said door openings.

6. In a freight car, an underframe having channel shaped side sills,side posts having their lower end portions extending through the upperflanges of and secured to the side sills, said posts having facingportions and the portions of said posts extending through the flanges ofthe side sills being offset in such a manner as to dispose the facingportions of said posts above said offset ends in substantially verticalalinement with the outer surfaces of the webs of the sills, a pluralityof spaced straight sheathing sections extending between adjacent postsand secured to the facing portions thereof and the outer surfaces of thewebs of said sills so as to provide a plurality of door openings in thesides of the car, doors secured to the posts and adapted to close saiddoor openings, and an upper frame secured to the outer surfaces of thesheathing sections and secured to the posts.

7. In car construction, a side sill comprising a web and an upperinturned floor supporting flange, the latter having apertures formedtherein intermediate the edge portion thereof and the sill web, andposts projecting through said apertures and secured to the inner surfaceof the web, the projected portions of said posts resting against the webof said sill for substantially the full length of said projectedportions.

8. In car construction, a side sill comprising a web having an integralinturned flange at its upper edge portion, said flange being continuousfrom end to end of the side sill and having apertures formed thereinintermediate the edge portion thereof and the sill web, posts projectingthrough said apertures and secured to the inner surface of the web, andflooring supported on said flange.

WILLIAM A. BREWER.

